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Ottawa (January 19, 2026) – With Parliament set to return a week from today, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism, B’nai Brith Canada, Canadian Women Against Antisemitism, Canadian Jewish Law Association, and Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center issued the following joint statement on Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act:

“Since our organizations joined together last month to urge parliamentarians to build consensus and move forward with urgency on Bill C-9, we have witnessed the deadliest attack against Jews since the October 7 massacre. In Sydney, we saw the consequences of unchecked hate and violent extremism with the murder of 15 innocent people, including a Holocaust survivor and a 10-year-old girl.    

“In the wake of that Islamic State-linked attack, Canada’s Integrated Threat Assessment Centre (ITAC) stated that the same conditions and drivers that led to Sydney exist here in Canada.  

“In Australia and the United Kingdom, authorities and leaders are taking action to confront the conditions that are driving the violence, including new laws to ban the glorification of terrorism, stronger police action against hateful protestors, and directives to criminalize public calls for ‘Intifada’ and the incitement of violence.  

“Meanwhile, here in Canada, the threats against Canadians persist: Holiday shoppers across the country harassed by extremists calling for violence; protestors disrupting New Year’s Eve celebrations in Montreal with images glorifying Hamas; and in Winnipeg, the synagogue of a congregation that dates back nearly 140 years was desecrated with vile Nazi symbols.  

“Words of condemnation are not enough. We urge the government and all parliamentarians to act now by providing clear direction for authorities to enforce existing laws, strengthening Bill C-9 through targeted amendments – including a new offence for the wilful promotion of terrorism – and pass this important legislation that enhances existing laws and provides additional tools for law enforcement and prosecutors to utilize to keep our communities safe.  

“We continue to call on Members of Parliament from all parties to build consensus and move forward with urgency.”